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nrrnn TATES ,Arniwr FRANK H. STETSON, OF LOWVELL, MASSACHUSETTS,ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOUBTI-IS TO FAB-L A. THISSELL AND FRANK A. ROBINSON,BQT'H OF SAME PLACE.

PlCKER-STAFF CHECK FGR LOOMS SEEGIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 30%,0k2, dated August 26, 1884-.

Application filed June 12, 1852.

To (0Z5 20. 1.0722, it may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK H. Srnrrson, of Lowell, in the county ofMiddlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Piclc er-Stal'r" Checks for Looms, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to picker-staff checks or devices for graduallyretarding the motion of a pickecstick caused by the shuttle striking thepicker attached to said picker-stick in the usual manner; and itConsists in the combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my deviceattached to the under side and front of the shuttle-box or lay of aloom, a partof which is shown, some of the parts being broken away toshow the pawl. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same. Fig.3 is an oblique view of the upper part of the lever. Fig. 4 is a frontView of the ratchet and pawl. Fig. 5 is a side view of the ratchet, apart of the hubof the same being broken away to show the counterborestherein. Fig. 6 is a side view of the spiral spring. Figs. 7 and S are,respectively, views of the rear and edge of the washer. Fig. 9 is afront view of the upper end of the lever and of a part of the stand,showing the stop 011 said lever and the lug on the stand against whichthe stop strikes.

A is the stand, the bracket A of which is secured by screws to the underside of the lay or shuttle-box X, the part A being screwed to the frontof the lay, and the part A hanging down to sustain the operative partsof the pickenstaff check. The part A is drilled and counterhored throughfrom the back to. admit the stud B, and to allow the head B of said studto come flush with the back part of the stand A Around the stud B isplaced a washer, G, of leather, paper, cloth, wood, or other fibrousmaterial, this washer G resting against a circular part, A'*, of thestand. A ratchet, D, turns on the stud B, and may be provided with acircular flange, D, which surrounds 'the washer G, to prevent the washerfrom spreading out far enough to interfere with the (No model.)

pawl E, and hinder said pawl from engaging with the teeth of theratchet. The ratchet is provided with a cylindrical hub, I), whichserves as a bearing for the lever F, and an an nular groove, D on thehub D receives and retains oil introduced through the oilhole F in thelever F, and decreases the friction between said lever and hub. The hubD is counterbored from the front centrally to receive-the spiral springG, which surrounds the stud B and rests against the annular shoulder D"at the rear end of said spring. A washer, H, of metal, surrounding thestud B, is forced against the front end of the spring by a nut, I, whichfits ascrew-thread, B", cut on the front end of said stud, and this nutis prevented from turning on the stud by a checlcnut, 1.

To steady the ratchet on the stud, the washer H is provided on its rearface with a central cylindrical part or hub, H, which enters the hub Bof the ratchet, and the hub of the ratchet may be a second timecounterbored, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, to receive the hub H, to givethe parts a larger bearing on each other and increased steadiness. Thelever F has a hub, F, provided with a circular opening to receive andturn upon the hub D" of the ratchet. The lower part of the lever F iscurved back under the shuttle-box, and is provided with a horizontalbachwardly-projecting arm, F beneath and at right angles to the slot Z,(through which the picker-stick Y reaches up into said shuttle-box.) Tothe upper end of the lever F, at K, is pivoted the pawl E, which takesinto, the teeth of the ratchet D, and to make the action of the pawlquicker and more certain the pawl, Figs. 1 and 4, is extended over theratchet in a curve, and its free end is thickened or weighted, as at E.on the bracket A of the stand, and a stop, 1*, which may be cast on thelever F, limit the swing of the lever in one direction.

The operation of the device is as follows: \Vhen the picker is thrownbackward (by the shuttle striking the picker in the usual manner) thepicker-stick strikes against the arm F and causes the lower end of thelever F to swing outward and the pawl attached to the A lug, A castupper end of said lever to turn the ratchet in the direction shown bythe arrow in Fig. 1. The friction between the washer G (which shouldturn with the ratchet) and the part A of the stand is so great that thepicker-stick is retarded and gradually stopped. hen the picherstiekmoves away from the arm F in throwing the shuttle, the lever F isbrought by its own weight to a nearly vertical position, as shown inFig. 1, the pawl sliding back over the teeth of the ratchet.

The friction between the washer C and the stand may be regulated bytightening and loosening the nut I, and thus varying the ten sion of thespring between the washer H and the shoulder D in the hub of theratchet.

The stop F on the lever F may be a separate piece, as shown at- F inFig. 3, having a part curved to fit the hub F", the curved part beingprovided with a slot, F, through which a screw, F passes into the hub F,so that by loosening the screw the step may be adjusted to vary theswing of the lover.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the bracket A and thestud B, with the ratchet D, provided with a hub, D having a'eentralcounter-bored opening, the rear end of said opening adapted to turn uponsaid stud, and the washer H, provided with the hub H, adapted to enterthe opening in the hub of said ratchet, and having itself an opening toreceive said stud, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the stand A, provided with the lug A with thelever F, the stop F provided with a slot, F, and the screw E", as andfor the purpose specified.

8. The combination of the stud B, and the ratchet D, provided with acounterbored hub, D, with the spring G, surrounding said stud within thehub of said ratchet, the washer H, and means for pressing said washeragainst said spring, as and for the purpose specified.

FRANK H. STETSON.

Witnesses:

ALBERT M. Blooms, FRANK ROBINSON.

